Milk cooling and dispensing device



Feb. 16, 1943. c. A. THOMAS ,3

I MILK COOLING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 26, 19:59

Patented Feb. 16, 1943 MILK COOLING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Chester A. Thomas, Crystal Lake, Ill., assirnor to Babson Bros, 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 26, 1939, Serial No. 281,230

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for cooling and filtering milk and similar fluids.

It has heretofore been the general practice to supply milk to cooling and filtering devices and to collect the treated or cooled eiliuent in a suitable receiving container. Operating in this manner, it has been necessary to gauge the quantity of liquid supplied to the treating instrumentality to prevent overflow of the receiving container.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate the special attention necessary in the operation of such devices by so arranging the milk treating or cooling instrumentality as to provide a reservoir for excess liquid adapted to retain any superfluous liquid remaining after the receiving container has become fully supplied, which device automatically ceases supply to the receiving container at this point and positively seals the outlet of the reservoir until such time as the container is replaced.

It will be apparent that the present invention provides a milk cooling or filtering unit to which the liquid may be supplied relatively indiscriminately while filling individual receptacles with the treated product thereof, and thi is, accordingly, of great practical value in the handling and supply of mill: where the product of thefliary is normally and preferably dispensed in individual milk cans or containers of convenient size.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a valve control for a milk cooler adapted to close when the receiving container is full and to be positively held in closed position until an empty container is placed in receiving position, as above, and particularly wherein the valve mechanism is relatively simple and mounted adjacent the exterior of the cooling member in convenient position for disassembly and cleaning. in this respect the present invention provides a construction which is well adapted to the handling of products which are preferably maintained in sterile condition.

The present invention yet further contemplates the provision of a valve construction for a liquid treating and dispensing device, as above, wherein a float acts directly to press the valve into closed position for the purpose of obviating the use of a relatively complex valve actuating mechanism and providing a simplified construction.

In thm connection it is a further important object of the present invention to provide in a construction such as the foregoing a unitary valve and float construction retained resiliently in position with respect to th outlet orifice of the device by'means of a yieldable attaching member and freely removable from the orifice by a mod erate force.

Yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide a construction such as the lore going wherein the dispensing valve is held positively closed by an exteriorly applied force when the unit is removed from operative position with respect to a receiving container in order to positively prevent leakage, the valve being automatically freed from. said positive closing force by mere arrangement in operative position adjacent an empty receiving container. To this end the valve member when released normally resides in valve opening position, whereby it is closable positively by the action or the float in accordance with the rise in level of liquid in the receiving container and/orthe influence of the positive mechanical closing means which comes into action upon relative separation from the receiving container. The present invention, accordingly, provides a construction wherein the valves are positively closed by external means for assuring continued reliability or operation.

Yet other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent throughout the course of the following specification, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational side view of a milk cooler constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view taken centrally through the lower part of the milk cooler shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view the same as Figure l but showing the relation of the parts when the milk cooler is in operative position above an empty milk can;

Figure 4 is a view identical with Figures 2 and 3 and illustrating the action of the valve when the liquid in the receiving container reaches a predetermined level; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the combined float and valve element.

Referring to the figures of the drawing, wherein the present invention is represented more in detail, Figures 1 and 2 show a milk cooler it supported upon an'adjustable bracket II. The cooler body has a frustoconical side wall I2 and is closed at the bottom by a wall It having a much more sharply inclined irustoconical configuration. The cooler It! may be provided with an open top for admission of liquid to be cooled, or may be provided with a reservoir and filter for straining solid material from the liquid, as is well known in dairy practice.

Attention is directed to the fact that the side wall l2 of the present cooler bodyis provided with an inner wall It surrounded by a coolant jacket ll, Figure 2. The jacket I! is provided with a continuous groove or depression 2. which progresses spirally upwardly, the apex or crest of this laterally depressed portion 2. being welded to the inner wall It, as clearly shown in Figure 2, to space the remainder of the wall it away from the wall It. As a result, the coolant jacket provides a continuous spiral path about the entire outer surface of the filter cooler Ill, wherefore a cooling liquid introduced at inlet 22 progresses upwardly and outwardly at outlets 24 to abstract heat from liquid within the wall II. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, it is preferable during operation to pass the milk or the liquid to be cooled. in a film downwardly along the wall 16 in heat-exchanging relationship.

28, and, accordingly, the cooling and filtering unit III, are lifted upwardly. The lower end of link 36 is pivoted to the fixed bar 26 as at 38, while a collar 40 adjustably fixed upon the bar 26 supports the sleeve 28 in lower position. In accordance with the present construction, therefore, the milk cooler may be readily elevated to permit the arrangement therebeneath of a conventional milk can. as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1 and may be readily swung to any of a plurality of positions about the bar 26 suitable for delivery of the treated product.

In accordance with the present invention, the liquid reaching the lower confines of the filtercooler unit I0 is permitted egress only when an unfilled or incompletely filled receiving container is arranged in proper predetermined receiving relationship. To this end the lower wall [4 of the cooling unit is provided centrally with an aper-,

ture 42, which aperture, as will be hereinafter seen, provides an operative valve seat cooperating with a movable valve member. As shown more clearly in Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, a preferred valve seat is provided by fianging or forming over the edge of the aperture as at 44 about an annular collar or washer 46. part of the valve comprises a float 48 having an upwardly extending tapered projection 50. As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, the tapered part 50 may enter the aperture 42 in valve closing relationship, the-adjacent surfaces at the aperture preferably being lapped together to assure a fluid-tight seal in closed position.

Permanent association of the float unit with the aperture 42 is conveniently maintained by means of a yieldable elongated member 52 ex tending upwardly from the end of the projection 50 and bent reversely, as clearly shown in Figures 2 to 5. While the configuration of the yieldable wire 52 is such as to prevent free passage through the aperture 42, nevertheless it will be evident that the application of a moderately increased force will cause the part 52 to yield for ready disassembly. It will be understood that this construction is of great practical significance in view of the conditions of sanitation and sterility which The movable must be maintained in handling products or the instant class.

In order to positively hold the valve in closed position the present invention provides a bell crank lever construction iulcrumed upon a fixed pivot or pintle 54 mounted upon the wall i4 and having an outwardly projecting arm 55 weighted as at 48. A second arm ll oi the bell crank lever projects downwardly, as shown in Figure 2, and terminates in an inwardly extending contact or pressing portion 52. As is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the contact extremity 82 of the lever is directed by the action of the counterweight il. upwardly against the bottom of the float 48 to seal the aperture 42. Thus at all times when the cooling unit is suspended freely as shown in Figure 2, the outlet orifice is closed.

For the purpose of illustrating the operation of the present device, however, reference is had to Figures 3 and 4 illustrating in detail the relative position of the parts with the cooling unit arranged in operative relationship above a suitable receiving container. The receiving container in this illustration and designatedby the reference numeral 54 possesses a conventional form having an upstanding neck portion 68 and an outwardly inclined annular flange portion 5! adapted to supportingly receive the complementary inclined bottom wall I4 of the cooler.

Attention is particularly directed to the fact that during arrangement of the cooling unit in operative position upon the receptacle 64, the

weighted arm 56 of the bell crank lever is mtated in a clockwise direction about its pivot, carrying with it the pressing finger 62 and, accordingly, releasing the fioat valve 48, which drops downwardly, as shown in Figure 2,. until the yieldable part 52 enters the aperture 42. From the foregoing it will be obvious that at this point the aperture 42 is open, whereupon liquid introduced into the cooler M will gravitate to the bottom and into the receptacle 64.

Let it be assumed that the liquid level in the container 64 reaches a predetermined maximum as indicated in Figure 4. At this time the fioat 48 is elevated, causing the valve projection 50 to enter the aperture 42, eflecting positive cessation of fiow through the aperture. It is quite important to note that should an excess of liquid have accumulated within the vessel Hi there will be no danger of loss or spillage in substituting an empty or substitute receptacle 64, since elevation of the cooler i0 permits the counterweighted lever to positively hold the fioat 48 in its upperv position through the action of the pressing finger 62. That is to say, elevation of the sealed vessel ID from the position of repose shown in Figure 4 permits the counterweighted arm 55 to drop downwardly to the original position shown in Figure 2 to apply a predetermined fierce, retaining the valve in orifice sealing posi- It is further important to note that the bell crank holding lever is, in accordance with the present invention, freely removable from its pivot 54 for sterilization and cleansing. To this end the portion of the lever iournaled upon the pivot 54 is cut away or relieved upon one side, as at HI, the cut-away portion being of suflicient extent to permit passage of the pivot. Accordingly, the lever may be freely removed from its supporting pintle 54 by lifting it upwardly and laterally, and equally as readily replaced or assembled. The present invention provides a liquid treating instrumentality which is of convenience in supaerreoa 3 plying and filling a plurality of containers in successive order, each of the receiving containers being separately and individually filled and; the cooling device, meanwhile, being elevated or swung to new positions adjacent successive receptacles without loss or contamination of any of the liquid. In accordance with the present invention, the liquid supplied to the receiving vessel is controlled by automatic means of great simplicity, capable of being maintained in a sterile condition, and relatively freely removable for periodic sterilization.

The present invention additionally provides a cooler body construction of substantially increased strength and rigidity. Heretofore it has been the practice to provide cooling jackets formed by spaced, co-extensive walls. In accordance with the present invention, however, it should be noted that the construction of the outer wall 58 is such as to provide a reinforcement for the inner wall it. That is to say, the spirally depressed groove or laterally ofiset portion 2i) serves as a reinforcement not only for the outer Wall l8 but for the inner wall it and, when combined with the inner wall, as by welding, is analogous in effect to conventional bridge truss constructions. It is thought that a careful consideration of Fig. 1 will illustrate the structural manner in which the inner and outer walls cooperate to mutually reinforce and rigidity the final assembly.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement or the various parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and

the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. For use in combination with a milk cooling device or" the class described having a liquid receiving vessel, an outlet and a valve and float means for sealing said outlet; a lever construction for normally retaining said valve in orifice sealing position, said lever having a disconiinuous pivot embracing journal peripherally re lieved to permit tree separation from the pivot for cleaning, an armeatending from said pivot portion and adapted in one pivotalposition to reside adjacent the lower surface or the vessel, a second arm extending laterally from said firstnamed arm, can second arm terminating in a portion disposed longitudinally and oppositely with respect to said first-named arm and "Seeing adapted to engage beneath a portion oi the float for holding the valve in sealing position in an other pivotal position oi leverl 2. in a device of the class described in contebination with a liquid receiving vessel having bottom walls converging inwardly, an outlet in a wall portion oi the vessel intermediate the juncture oi said converging walls, a float having a valve on its upper portion, said upper portion having means for depending the float and the valve through the discharge outlet whereby the pivot and a laterally extending arm on the other side of the pivot, said lever arms being formed. so that when said vessel and float and lever are inserted in the mouth of .a milk can, said lever is shifted on its pivot and assumes a position such that the straight arm lies paralto the converging wall of the receiving vessel, and such that the laterally extending arm of the lever is shiftable clear of the float when the flrst mentioned arm is parallel to the wall of the vessel whereby to permit said float to depend and the valve to shift to open position with respect to said orifice, said straight arm of the lever having suflicient weight whereby when said vessel and valve and lever are removed from said milk can, said straight arm will shift downwardly to cause the laterally disposed arm of the lever to engage the bottom of the float and lift it upwardly to cause the valve to close said discharge opening in the bottom of the vessel and for holding the valve in such position to seal the discharge opening of said vessel.

3. In a device of the class described in combination with a liquid receiving vessel having inwardly converging walls connected, with an intermediate bottom wall of the vessel, a centrally disposed aperture therein, a float having a valve on its upper portion adapted in an upper position of said float to project into said opening to seal the same, said valve having means thereabove adapted to permit said valve and float to depend from said vessel with the valve in open position with respect to said aperture while permitting the free upward movement oi the float valve, means disposed on the vessel at a point above the closed position of the valve constituting a pivot, and a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said pivot, said lever having an angularly disposed portion bentso that in one position it engages the underside of the float to push said float upwardly to closed position, and in another position to shift clear of said float to permit said float freely to depend from said aperture, said lever having an actuator for causing it tobe shifted to said two positions.

4. In a device of'the class described in combination with a liquid receiving vessel having an outlet, means for maintaining said float and valve in shiitable relation to said aperture of said vessel whereby said valve normally remains in downward open position with respect to said aperture but is ireely shiitable upwardly to close said opening means permanentiy connected to the outer wall oi the vessel forming a pivotal portion and lever provided intermediate its ends with a peripherally relieved embracing journal adapted to form a quick detachable connection with the pivotal portion on said vessel, said lever including an arm extending from said pivot and adapted in one pivotal position to reside substantially away from the lower surface or the vessel and a second arm extending laterally from the first and terminating in a portion adapted to engage beneath the central portion of the float for holding the float and valve in upward position to cause said valve to seal the aperture in said vessel, said second mentioned arm of the lever in a shifting position permitting the free downward movement of said valve to open the aperture in said vessel.

GHESTER A. THOMAS. 

